Speculum.



0. s. GILHOUSEN.

SPECULUM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-1831914.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

UNITED %TATE@ PATENT CHASE S. GILHOUSEN, OF MARBLETON, WYOMING.

SPECULUM.

Application filed September 18, 1914.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHAsn S. GILHoUsnN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Marbleton, in the county of Lincoln and State of Wyoming,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Specula, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to veterinary instruments, and more particularlyrelates to specula or devices capable of maintaining an animals mouth inan open position to facilitate inspection.

As the principal obj set, this invention contemplates the provision of aspeculum which shall be so constructed that the animals mouth will bereliably and adjustably maintained in an open position.

A coordinate object is to provide an instrument of this character inwhich the adjusting parts are so situated as not to obstruct the use oftools upon or in the animals mouth.

An object of equal importance with the foregoing, is to so construct aspeculum of this character with regard to proportion, number andarrangement of parts as to provide a device that Will be cheaplymanufactured, while at the same time durable and efficient in operation.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the followingspecification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims whichare appended hereto and form a part of this application.

With reference to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferredembodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughoutthe several'views of which like characters of reference designatesimilar parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention as it is positioned uponthe head of a horse.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the device in detail removedfrom the animal.

In the embodiment illustrated, the main portion may be said to consistof the pairs of side bars 5 and 6, which are preferably formed of astrong, yet springy metal with the respective bars 7 and 8 of each paircon- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. a, 1917.

Serial No. 862,373.

verging rearwardly to a point of intcrsection 9 at which they are hingedas shown at 10 and pivotally secured to a head strap 11. The bars 7 and8 of each pair are thus alined in the same vertical plane in the mannersimilar to a pair of compasses and the upper bars 7 of each pair may besecured as shown at 12 to the nose strap 13.

The upper bars of each pair and similarly the lower bars of each areconnected by a U-shaped plate 14: having the enlarged flanged ends 15 bywhich it is secured to the bars and being provided at the center of thecurved portion with the vertical extensions 16 so formed as to abut theanimals teeth upon the outer side thereof when said teeth are restingproperly upon the plate 14. The lower U-shaped member 1 1 is providedwith an angular lateral extension 17 which is suitably slotted as at 18to receive an arcuate notch bar 19, said bar being pivoted at a point 20removed the same distance from the ends of the bars 7 as the animalsmouth. This bar 19 is suitably notched as at 21 to act as an adjustabledetent in conjunction with the slot 18 as will be obvious upon a perusalof the drawings.

In practice, after the strap 11 has been buckled about the animals headin the manner illustrated and the nose strap 13 has also been securedthereon the pairs of bars 5 and 6 will extend longitudinally of the headof the animal and enable the use of the plates 14 in a manner somewhatsimilar to the use of an ordinary bit with the extensions 16 abuttingthe outer surface of the animals teeth as the latter rest upon theplates 14. It will then be obvious that the speculum may be adjusted bymeans of the notched bar 19 and it will further be apparent that thisnotched bar will reliably maintain the device in its adjusted positionin such manner that no obstruction will be offered to the use of toolsupon the animals mouth or to the use of a means for illuminating theinterior thereof, thus attaining the objects previously set forth.

While in the foregoing however, I have thus illustrated in the drawingsand described in the specification such combination and arrangement ofelements as constitute the preferred embodiment of my invention, Idesire to emphasize the fact that I may Lfor connection thereto, lateralextensions on endsof corresponding bars :01? said pairs of bars, saidconnectingv plates beingwidened at their-ends to overlap the-ends ofthe-bars one, of said platesat, thegends thereof each having an opening;therein, and;=a curved catch, ,having a toothed edge; hinged freely onthe sidebar of each pair opposite the lat eral extensions and adapted tomovethrough the openings; therein 3 and co-acting- LWith the 5 thesideha-rs and securing them to opposite sides of the strap, a nose strapformlng an lntermedlate connection between corresponding bars ofopposite pairs, plates carried at the extremities of slmilar barsofopposite fipairs at slottedextension prO ecting laterally from each sideof one of said plates, and means pivoted tma bar oft-each pairtoscoactavith a, corresponding lateralfextension to maintain: the speculum; inopen est position. a.lmtestlmonyfwhereof Lafiix myv signature in{presence of two ,Wd'UlGSSGS.

.GHASE-SIGIL'HOUSEN.

iwitnesses wKr J LUMAN, Jh F. SHIRLEY.

Ccpj es, ot thigpatentfmay beo'ptained for fivements each, by addressingthe Commissioner ofrlatentg,

Wm;Ingram, D- C.

